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Complete, utter insanity

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Illinois

* I mentioned this yesterday, but I’m gonna repeat it today: We need a thorough legislative investigation, with subpoena power, of this early release program. Literally giving convicted attempted murderers a Get Out of Jail Free card is beyond the pale…

A west suburban man sentenced to prison for murder conspiracy was freed early under a controversial state program that Gov. Quinn called a “mistake” and discontinued last week, a Chicago Sun-Times analysis has found.

Also sprung early were 20 other people with killings or attempted murder in their criminal backgrounds, records show. Six were convicted of murder, five of second-degree murder, one of manslaughter, one of murder conspiracy and seven of attempted murder.

Those 20 inmates already had served their sentences for those crimes but had been sent back to prison for committing others.

Under the discontinued program — called “MGT-Push” or “accelerated meritorious good time” — inmates’ past crimes weren’t factors in whether they should be eligible for early release. By law, Quinn’s corrections chief, Michael Randle, considered only the offenses for which inmates were currently in prison, officials said Tuesday.

The Dept. of Corrections claims state law forbade them from using those prior convictions in determining whether the bad guys got an early release. You gotta be kidding me. This was a discretionary program concocted by the administration. The director could essentially grant the good time credits to just about anyone he wanted. And, man, did he hand out some doozies…

A Sun-Times review of the records of the released inmates showed Michael Rodriguez, 36, was convicted of murder conspiracy. In 2007, Rodriguez was one of 31 Latin Kings gang members charged in connection with 22 killings in the Aurora area over the past two decades. He and three others were charged in Kane County with the 1990 murder of Albert Gonzalez, 18.

Rodriguez was in the county jail between June 28, 2007, and Oct. 29, 2009 — jail time that was applied to his 66-month prison sentence.

He served 40 days in state prison before he was paroled early on Dec. 8. All told, he spent less than half his sentence behind bars.

That’s just insane. Truly. Insane.

Again, we need a legislative investigation. Pronto. The citizens of this state have a right to know whether their government - and their governor - are endangering their lives due to gross incompetence.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 10:39 am

Comments

What a bunch of clowns! Quinn and Randle have put the whole state at risk. Talking about cemeteries is not going to deflect attention from this fiasco. Can the GA suspend Quinn’s authority to govern until he loses re-election? This guy is really dangerous. We’ve got 12 more months of this Bozo, win or lose. What next?

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 10:49 am
>> Again, we need a legislative investigation. Pronto. The citizens of this state have a right to know whether their government - and their governor - is endangering their lives due to gross incompetence.

Comment by Wondering Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 10:50 am
Rich, what questions need to be answered?

I’m OK with the journalists asking Quinn and his administration and pursuing other sources of information.

I’m not clear on the value added by having the legislature investigate.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 10:52 am
Given the size of the deficit, the savings through early release were chump change.

It’s inexplicable — both politically and as policy — that the administration looked to save a few bucks here when we’re kicking the can down the road everywhere else. Weird, actually.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 10:53 am
You’re treating the symptom and not the disease. The average time spent in prison for rape convictions is, what, a little over 3 years? Repeat DUI drivers are actually a greater threat to most people’s lives than a released murderer — how many times have we seen people killed by somebody who has 4-5 DUI convictions? We need the resources to keep the violent offenders locked up, which means we need to (gulp) legalize or decriminalize drugs and be more creative (boot camps/monitoring/etc.) for non-violent criminals.

Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 10:53 am
Maybe they should investigate why a judge is giving out 66 months for murder conspiracy. Serving half your time in Illinois is the standard. Quinn’s suspended program, although insane, really isn’t the problem, is it? It’s the years and years of incredible leniency shown to criminals and because of a lack of funding to keep them locked up.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 10:58 am
==Rodriguez was one of 31 Latin Kings gang members charged in connection with 22 killings in the Aurora area over the past two decades. He and three others were charged in Kane County with the 1990 murder of Albert Gonzalez, 18.==

That will look great in a mailer, thanks Pat!

FYI, appointing a ‘Public Safety Officer’ is going to do nothing to stop this storm….

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 10:58 am
===I’m not clear on the value added by having the legislature investigate. ===

I made it clear: Subpoena power. They can lie to and withhold from journalists. Subpoena power and swearing in witnesses is another matter, however.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:02 am
I think my handle on the blog looks better everyday.

Comment by Moving to Oklahoma Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:04 am
Amen Rich.

Comment by Dan S, a voter and Cubs Fan Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:06 am
Hey Bill (Cellini)!! This might be the first time i agree with u. They wont suspend his authority but they will replace Randle and should perform a financial audit. Maybe someone got paid!! cant imagine why they would release murders and not low level criminals….didnt Randle have a scandal in Ohio for contracting his frat brother company and leaving the “state agencies forced to pay one price for prison inmate-constructed furniture while Randle’s discount furniture-selling buddy got another”!!! sure would fit under ryan administration….

Comment by Lucy Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:07 am
An investigation by a legislative committee or commission seems doomed to producing very little. Why? Because the partisanship during an election year will ring louder than any “truth” that may emerge. Will the Speaker or the President allow Republicans to excoriate Democratic officeholders/agency heads in public? I really doubt it. Maybe a special prosecutor could be named, though from what funds he/she gets paid (and how long he/she has to wait for a paycheck) may be problematical.

Comment by Captain Flume Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:13 am
this is turning into a disaster for our governor.

if there are more arrests from prior early parolees—there won’t be any easy answers to that..

talking about burr ridge won’t help either..

the gov is in a corner right now…

Comment by quinn fan Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:14 am
The Republicans are holding back until Quinn wins the primary. The Dems don’t want to rock the boat.

If Hynes were a stronger contender, some Dems would back him and they would have already called for an investigation.

Comment by yipes Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:14 am
I don’t know how much further the discussion on this early release idiocy can go without an honest non-political discussion of how we can afford to let go of the “underutilized” prison in Thomson when our state clearly should be utilizing it.

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:18 am
Don’t get too excited yet, OneMan. Primary voters still have a chance to do the right thing and send TurnemLoose Quinn packing. If they don’t, I just might help you with that mailer.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:18 am
Quinn kept the Blagojevich nitwits. What else would you expect? Quinn abandoned any pretext of leadership when he sold his soul to the Chicago democrat machine. He is now just riding along in a broken-down jalopy with no control of the steering wheel or the brake pedal.

Until November 2 when the fumigation begins.

Comment by Joe from Joliet Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:25 am
Rich, what questions need to be asked? What information needs to be made available?

It seems the conservative course of action is to ask the questions and request the information.

When the Quinn administration responds then we can judge the accuracy and completeness of the answers.

I’m not opposed to preparing to hold hearings in the General Assembly, but I would rather get information sooner–as much information as possible–rather than wait for hearings.

As Roland Burris demonstrated, putting someone under oath is not a guarantee of the truth coming out.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:31 am
Hey Joe from Joliet, don’t forget that Quinn hired the good government BGA chief, Jay Stewert. That hire alone bought him goodwill with the Chgo media. So there is no need for Quinn to clean house.

Comment by yipes Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:36 am
The Democratic powers in this state better hurry up if they are going to limit the political damage coming in November. The speaker, senate president, Chicago mayor, Durbin, members of Congress and the White House need to seriously consider whether Pat Quinn is the right man to carry the party’s banner in the fall - and be quick about it.

Comment by anonymous Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:37 am
This is one of the reasons women don’t trust Quinn.

Comment by Its a man's world Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:41 am
=== Again, we need a legislative investigation. Pronto. The citizens of this state have a right to know whether their government - and their governor - are endangering their lives due to gross incompetence. ===

Quinn/Randle cannot be trust to look into this fiasco on their own. We need an independent review of how this happened and who all were involved in approving these early release program(s).

But who is asking for this review beside Rich Miller and a bunch of bloggers??

Comment by Wondering Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:43 am
===I’m not opposed to preparing to hold hearings in the General Assembly, but I would rather get information sooner–as much information as possible–rather than wait for hearings.===

This is not an either/or proposition. You really think I favor the media not asking questions? Don’t be daft.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:44 am
==Subpoena power.==

There’s the answer! Give CapFax subpoena power! Jeffersonian democracy on steroids!

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:45 am
Rich, what questions need to be asked? What information needs to be made available?

– What the frak where you guys thinking?

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:45 am
As long as this is in the news, this would be a good time for an informed public discussion, complete with assorted experts a la the Diane Rehm show on the whole issue of sentencing, early release, recividism, executive discretion, comparative recidivism rates of different kinds of offenders and so on. For example, does length of sentence affect recidivism, if so, with respect to what crimes. Does behavior in jail predict recidivism? What types of corrections cases are best suited to home monitoring? And so on. Alas, this is election season. We’ll be even less enlightened at the end of it.

Comment by cassandra Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:48 am
and are State Attorney General sits on sidelines very silent on this issue…

Comment by Furloughed Illini Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:59 am
of course Quinn did an early release program, what with all the no one deserves the death penalty, it’s the fault of the education system nuts running at the mouth on how to treat criminals in Illinois. Ryan wiped out all of death row, not looking at each case on the facts, and there was barely a cry against his actions.

early release programs are always fraught with problems. does anyone remember the secret program that the Thompson administration ran FOR YEARS? basically, they interpreted the power of the prison folks to give multiples of the good time and early release that was clear in statute. a lawsuit was filed to end the practice.

there are clearly problems with the current early release. at least Quinn caught it early and is doing something about it. Thompson DID NOTHING, and only a lawsuit stopped him.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 12:02 pm
What a disgrace! Heads need to roll and and the first will hopefully take place on Feb 2.

Comment by Obamas' Puppy Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 12:04 pm
I’m getting concerned that this is drifting off into hysteria not based on facts.

People commit crimes. Some of these people get convicted (along with some innocents). Some of the people convicted get sentenced to prison. One of the incentives to get prisoners to behave in prison is early release programs. Some of the people who have done prison time commit criminal acts after leaving prison; some don’t.

I’m concerned that there’s an irrational element to this discussion. People are getting agitated that some convicts who did bad stuff are getting released “early”. And people are getting agitated that people convicted of crimes are committing crimes again after being released.

The first issue is simply how the system works. And the second issue is a fact of life.

The Randall White homicide would have been particularly damning because it seemed like White may been released earlier than the law provided for. This would have been a use of executive discretion contrary to the law that resulted in the death of a minor.

So, there are two issues in play for me.

One, did Team Quinn abuse executive discretion in a way that got people hurt?

Two, did Team Quinn screw-up the PR side of the equation?

As Toni Preckwinkle says about Todd Stroger, the media isn’t always fair, but one of the jobs of an elected executive is managing the media.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 12:05 pm
===at least Quinn caught it early===

Um, no. The AP caught it early.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 12:05 pm
Last week or the week before, Rep. Franks, a democrat, called for an investigation into the early prison release programs.

I cannot recall the name of the committee he chairs.Ist is government accountability?

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 12:17 pm
Maybe the whole debacle was a variation on the license scandal that sent Ryan on penal leave. Maybe a counter was set up somewhere to buy a get out of jail card. The whole thing is so incredible, I must attach intentional conduct at some level. I can’t believe that Illinois government is this incompetent.

Comment by Cook County Commoner Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 1:03 pm
More and more, the MGT Push debacle and the crimes committed by the released will be tied to Quinn, the way the Willis children were tied to George Ryan. The bribe money component will be replaced by the incompetence component, is all.

Quinn will probably appoint another commission to study the results of previous commissions on commissioning blue ribbon panels.

Yeah, that will fix everything.

Another panel, board, commission, or study.

Yep.

Comment by Some Guy Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 1:06 pm
== I must attach intentional conduct at some level. I can’t believe Illinois government is this incompetent.==

CCC, I suppose there’s also the possibility that deep down PQ does not want to be Gov. with all its pressures, and he is (unintentionally) self-sabotaging himself. Stranger things have happened.

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 1:13 pm
people caught the Thompson disaster and informed him. he did not change things, hence the lawsuit. Quinn was told there was an error and did something about it, even though there are issues with what was done. I’m not defending Quinn, I’m trying to point out the historical issues with early release and the disaster that was the IDOC in the 80s.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 1:16 pm
Not much will come of this. The Attorney General(D) does nothing or says nothing. The democratic leaders are figuring out which appointed official(s) will get sacrificed. And the newspapers and blogs like this expressing outrage, but will move on to another story tomorrow. the big blizzard.
Come November voters will express disgust and outrage and a majority will vote democratic. The definition of insanity.
Sad. Very sad.

Comment by Lee Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 2:54 pm
ryan’s corruption cost lives. quinn’s letting murderers go free. remind me what blago did, rich.

Comment by celebrity apprentice Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 4:21 pm
Governor Quinn announced that a new position was created to oversee the early release issue. I thought that was the directors job? And wasn’t Randle “handpicked” by Quinn after a nationwide search? I seem to remember PQ declaring that Randle was the best person for the job. But instead of firing him for this debacle, he hires more people…….. I wonder if the new guy will have to take furlough days or will his position be subject to layoff because of budget shortfall?

What a joke. Hynes should have a field day with this.

Comment by southern illinoisan Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 4:46 pm
While it is deeply troubling that these people are being released early and they are out there on the streets, those who travel in policy circles know that the Meritorious Good Time (MGT) and Supplemental Meritorious Good Time (SMGT) programs have been going on since the 1980’s. This isn’t old news. Back when I was in the State’s Attorney’s office in the early 1990’s, they let this creep Peter Anding out early who got busted for being a sex offender. This guy was actually a sports writer who covered high school sports for the Sun-Times. I will spare you the details. After serving only a fraction of his sentence,he got busted again for doing the same disgusting stuff. This stuff has been going on since the 1980’s. It is deplorable. But the early release of felons in this state under these programs has been going on under both GOP and DEM administrations. This isn’t entirely some new phenomenon.

Comment by Big Policy Nerd Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 6:04 pm
I wasn’t sure about Quinn; now he will never as forever never get my vote.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 9:25 pm
I’m really, really scared for the state of Illinois. I oray the electorate wakes up and votes Quinn out of office. Truly a nice man, but no clue how to govern a state. Too bad he spent 30 years tearing at the walls of government, and now that he has to manage it? All I can say is Heaven help us.

Comment by Rethickulass Wednesday, Jan 6, 10 @ 11:47 pm
If you have a portable job leave illinois the first chance (if you can find work under obamanomics) This state is going down in an un-ceremonious heap. Heavy taxes are coming to shore up the bleeding even if the budget was 1/2 as still won’t help correct the incompetence at all levels

Comment by The CARDINAL Thursday, Jan 7, 10 @ 1:57 am
Mike Randle is a good guy and is trying hard. The problem is the bums from two previous administrations are still in place. They’ve conned Randle into thinking they are on Quinn’s side..not true.

Look at the prisoner release mess…it doesn’t have Randle’s hands on it….backspace a few months to last August……..as proof of my theory: read the IDOC audit by Bill Holland & Company…IDOC breaks every procuremnt law on the books….and it’s the deadwood left behind that made those decisions not Randle.

Comment by Insider Thursday, Jan 7, 10 @ 7:50 am